The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of eCG on vascularization and development of feline ovarian tissue xenografted to immunosuppressed mice. Feline ovarian fragments (∼1 mm3) were transplanted under the renal capsule of 20 adult, ovariectomized, C57BL/6 SCID female mice. At 45 d after transplantation, 10 mice (controls) were euthanized and the remainder given 10 IU of eCG (and sacrificed 48 h later). Transplants were recovered immediately after death, fixed, sectioned, and stained with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS). Fragment volume (Cavallieri principle) and vascularization were assessed. Mean xenotransplant volume for control and treatment groups was 0.17 ± 0.03 and 0.37 ± 0.13 mm3, respectively (P = 0.0952); vascular volume density, 30.3 ± 11.3 and 49.1 ± 8.9% (P = 0.0281); surface density, 4.1 ± 2.4 and 6.2 ± 1.7 μm-1 (P = 0.2222); and vessel total surface, 0.63 ± 0.24 μm2 and 2.28 ± 1.05 μm2 (P = 0.0079). In conclusion, eCG significantly increased vascular volume density of xenotransplanted ovarian tissue and improved its development.
Keywords: Angiogenesis; Reproduction techniques; Xenotransplantation.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.